dwarf
Americannoun
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a person of abnormally small physical stature resulting from a medical or genetic condition, especially a person with achondroplasia or some other disease that produces disproportion or deformation of features and limbs.
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an animal or plant much smaller than the average of its kind or species.
- Synonyms:
- runt
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(in folklore) a being in the form of a small, often misshapen man, usually having magic powers.
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Astronomy. dwarf star.
adjective
verb (used with object)
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to cause to appear or seem small in size, extent, character, etc., as by being much larger or better.
He dwarfed all his rivals in athletic ability.
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to make dwarf or dwarfish; prevent the due development of.
verb (used without object)
noun
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an abnormally undersized person, esp one with a large head and short arms and legs Compare midget
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an animal or plant much below the average height for the species
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( as modifier )
a dwarf tree
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(in folklore) a small ugly manlike creature, often possessing magical powers
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astronomy short for dwarf star
verb
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to become or cause to become comparatively small in size, importance, etc
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(tr) to stunt the growth of
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An abnormally small person, often having limbs and features atypically proportioned or formed.
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An atypically small animal or plant.
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A dwarf star or dwarf galaxy.
Sensitive Note
Is it OK to say dwarf? See midget.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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dwarfishadjective
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dwarfnessnoun
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dwarfishlyadverb
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dwarflikeadjective
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undwarfedadjective
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dwarfishnessnoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has dwarfedperfect 3rd person singular
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have dwarfedperfect
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has been dwarfingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been dwarfingperfect progressive
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am dwarfingprogressive 1st person singular
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dwarfssingular 3rd person
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are dwarfingprogressive
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is dwarfingprogressive 3rd person singular
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dwarfingparticiple
Past
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had dwarfedperfect
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had been dwarfingperfect progressive
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were dwarfingprogressive plural
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was dwarfingprogressive singular
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dwarfedparticiple
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dwarfedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of dwarf
First recorded before 900; Middle English dwerf, Old English dweorh; replacing Middle English dwerg, Old English dweorg; cognate with Old High German twerg, Old Norse dvergr
Explanation
An unusually short, small person is sometimes called a dwarf. There are many different genetic medical conditions that can cause a person to be classified as a little person or a dwarf. Some people are offended by dwarf, preferring to be called "little people," "LP," or "people of short stature." The general condition that leads to delayed growth is called "dwarfism." The noun dwarf is also used for an unusually small animal or plant, or as a verb meaning "make something seem very small," as when a new apartment building dwarfs the surrounding houses. The Old English root dweorg referred to a tiny creature from German mythology.
Vocabulary lists containing dwarf
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
According to forecasts it has shared with investors, it is set to burn cash at a level that would dwarf any other public company in history.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
"For the first time we have pinpointed the origin of these signals, confirming the source to be a 'cataclysmic variable', or an accreting white dwarf star," said Mr. Rose.
From Science Daily • Jun. 2, 2026
Matt Kennedy, a senior strategist at Renaissance Capital, said the SpaceX offering would dwarf Cerebras, as it is expected to raise more than every IPO combined in the last two years.
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
Lazare, a Papillon dwarf spaniel with stand-up "butterfly" ears, was born on December 4, 1995, according to animal charity worker Anne-Sophie Moyon.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
And high above them all, looking down, is the red dwarf, just like Dad said.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
